LESSON, The Radical Teachings of Jesus Christ #3: Blessed are the meek...

In Matthew 5 Jesus gives us a list of personal “attitudes” that will cause us to be “blessed” or “happy”. These are directly counter the usual humanistic way of thinking.

Radical Concept #3
 "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." [Mat 5:5 KJV]

Definition of “meek”: mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness
Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time (Isa 41:17, Luk 18:1-8). Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will (Gal 5:23).

Is "meekness" the equivalent of "weakness"?

How is Moses described in Numbers 12:3? What are the circumstances of this passage?
(Now the man Moses [was] very meek, above all the men which [were] upon the face of the earth.) [Num 12:3 KJV]

How does Jesus describe himself in Matthew 11:24? What impact does this have on us as individuals?

What are realistic ways in which "meekness" (strength under control) will manifest itself in the life of the believer?

How does this contrast with advice the "world" will give?

What is the opposite of meekness? 


What is God's opinion of the proud?

"These six [things] the LORD hates, Yes, seven [are] an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness [who] speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. [Pro 6:16-19 NKJV]

What will be the end result of proud people? Of the meek?

The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. [Pro 15:25 KJV]

Review the following verses:

[Pro 8:13 KJV] The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.[Pro 11:2 KJV] [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.[Pro 13:10 KJV] Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.[Pro 14:3 KJV] In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.[Pro 16:18 KJV] Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.[Pro 29:23 KJV] A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.[Mar 7:22 KJV] Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:[1Jo 2:16 KJV] For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Is it possible that the meek inherit the earth because they are the only ones left standing?

To go to the next lesson click HERE.

Go with it...

I have come to believe that perfection is the enemy of ministry. Too often we wait for perfect circumstances, perfect tools or perfect talents not realizing that perfection never comes. 


In Exodus 4:2 God asked Moses "What is that in your hand?" referring to Moses shepherd staff. That's hardly a tool to deliver a nation from slavery, but it is what he had in his hand when God commissioned him to the task. It is the also the very tool God used time and time again to work the miraculous.


God delights in using the odd, the unexpected and the weak to work his will. It's time to lose the excuses, grab whatever is handy, and go do what God wants done.


Use what you have. Leave the miracles to Him.

Just some guy named Joe...

    Joe was a good man and a generous man. He was well thought of by his church. Joe’s church was rapidly expanding and in serious need of funds. So he, like many others, sold his property and gave the money to the church.    

    Joe was wise. A young hot-headed preacher came to Joe’s town. This man had been giving the church a lot of trouble and had suddenly been converted. Many in the church weren’t convinced, but Joe brought him into fellowship with the believers.

    Joe was a man full of the Holy Ghost and faith. Joe’s church had some deep seated racial prejudices.  When evangelists began preaching to those the church had ignored, it was Joe who was sent to investigate. Joe was able to convince his church to cross the racial divide with the gospel.

    Joe was a man who would seek out young ministers and shepherd them through the early stages of their ministry.  He was a man others would trust with large offerings. He was a man of character and humility. He was calm and persuasive.

    Joe was preacher, yet his student did more preaching than he. Joe never wrote a book to bear his name, but those he mentored wrote many books.  Eventually the young men he helped eclipsed him in the mind of the church. 

    Joe is generally forgotten now, and when he is remembered, it is most often for the disagreement he had with one of his protégés who was outgrowing his mentor.

    Without Joe however, the church would have been seriously handicapped. Joe was in fact the Apostle Joe although he seldom makes anyone’s list of great apostles.

    The need for ministry like Joe’s is still very relevant, and yet, still very unappreciated. You see we don’t know Joe by his given name. The leaders of his church made up a name for him. They called him “Joe Encouragement”, or if you please Joses Barnabas. Barnabas, as he is called in the Bible, is the man who mentored both the Apostle Paul and John Mark.

    Great men do not become great men without encouragement along the way. On at least one occasion John Mark called it quits and went to the house.  Barnabas brought him back and made him profitable to the ministry once again. Paul suffered many things from within and without the church, yet he had Barnabas by his side.

    You may not be called to have your name in lights on the marquis. You may never preach to thousands. Your name may never be a household name like that of the Rev. Billy Graham. You may spend your life as the backdrop to great ministry. Don’t be discouraged! God needs people to carry the Barnabas load.
-------------------------------------------------
1. God does not call us to be great. He calls us to be obedient.

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

2. God is fair in his reward for faithfulness.

1Sa 30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part [is] that goeth down to the battle, so [shall] his part [be] that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

3. Twice God instructed Moses to encourage Joshua.

Deu 1:38 [But] Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

Deu 3:28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

4. King David needed encouragement, and had to encourage himself.
 1Sa 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

5. Hezekiah encouraged the Levites and the Priests.

 2Ch 31:4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.

2Ch 35:2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD,

6. God is an encourager to Israel.

Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.


We are not called to be great. We are called to be faithful, and we are called to infuse one another with courage. Dear God, let me be like Joe!